January Randomness

I'm finally well! I feel like myself! We've been laying low since I was sick and now it's just freezing cold outside! Alex is back into her routine of gymnastics and dance and she loves every second of it! She started learning her tap and ballet routines for her recital in May!

Alex is also getting into a little more of the terrible two's. She is super whiny and melts if she doesn't get her way. When she gets super whiny to the point where she won't even try to talk she has to sit in a chair in her room until she calms down. I guess it's our little version of time out. It's the only thing we can do that seems to work. She takes a few minutes to calm down then she comes out and talks to us.

Here are a few random pics from the month so far!

getting ready for dance on a cold day!!!

practicing on the tip toe rope...or vacuum cleaner cord!

sous chef!

2 1/2

My baby girl is 2 1/2 today! I feel like so much has changed in the six months since she turned two! Alex moved from her crib to a toddler bed, she is potty trained, she started gymnastic and dance (ballet and tap), and she really really started communicating with us!

Alex knows all of her colors, she can identify the all of the letters in the alphabet, she can count to 14 easily unassisted (20 with a little help), she can count backwards from 8-1, she can spell her name, she can identify most shapes, she sings songs, speaks in complete sentences, she has an AMAZING memory, she dances, runs and hops everywhere!

She LOVES helping in the kitchen. If I am making something, she wants to have her stool right beside me helping. She loves hands on activities. She like to help plant flowers, dig in the flower beds, play with play-doh, have tea parties, have dance parties, feed Cooper, make coffee...pretty much anything and everything we do!

She is very social and loves to be around people. She ask at least twice a day to go to Chick-fil-a or Barnes and Noble to play. She loves being around other kids so I know she will absolutely love starting pre-school.

It seems like in 6 months my sweet girl went from baby to a little girl. I look at her beautiful face and she just takes my breath away!

New Year...so far

Well, 2011 hasn't started off on the best foot. I started getting sick December 29th...and I'm just now getting over it! I had a horrible sinus infection but my antibiotic seems to be doing it's thing now!

My mom came on Monday evening to help out with Alex so I could get some rest and go to the doctor. He never really said what was wrong with me, but didn't disagree when I said I thought it was a sinus infection, so I'm going with it!

I've never been big on New Year's resolutions because I never stick to them and just feel guilty at the end of the year. There are a few things I want to focus on, but if I slip up some, no biggie.

-Organization! Alex's room, toys, the kitchen, our front closet that ends up as a catch all for every random thing in the house, our closet, the laundry room and just the living area in general. I feel like no matter what I do, we are being over run with stuff! It's all going to start with a major cleaning of each space and getting rid of the things we don't use or are just taking up space!

-Eating better! For the most part, Alex eats better than Josh and I do, but only because she is picky! We meet Josh out for lunch at least 4, usually 5, times a week. I want to be better about having stuff at home so Josh can come home for lunch instead.

-Alex...in general. I want to find a pre-school for her I really like. My goal is to have her start in the fall. I want her to go 2-3 days a week. We have several great options. I plan on scheduling a tour of each school in late January-early February so I can have a decision made by Spring Break. By the end of the year, I'd also like to have Alex moved from her toddler bed to a full size bed. I know the transition will be super easy for her since she already sleeps in a full size bed at my parents. My problem is redoing her bedroom. I ADORE her current bedding and I just haven't been able to find anything I like as much! Not to mention, I just can't vision how I'd set up her room so the bed isn't in front of a window!

-last but not least, I want to relax and enjoy time with Josh. I feel like my entire life revolves around Alex right now. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I know Josh gets the short end of the stick sometimes. If Alex has a bad day, it gets to me and poor Josh gets home to a cranky child and a cranky wife! I really need to utilize her nap time to get things done around here so after Alex is in bed, we can relax and enjoy our time together!

Alex Sings the Hits!

Well, not really the hits, unless you count Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, You Are My Sunshine and Happy Birthday in there! Please ignore the fact that she is in the bathroom, sitting on the toilet! haha

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Family Wedding

We spent the last 5 days in Dallas, but that will get it's own post later! Aside from seeing family and extending our Christmas celebration, we went to my youngest cousins wedding on Saturday (New Year's Day). Alex was the flower girl. She had a few melt downs before walking down the aisle, but when it was time, she put her game face on and did great! She spent the night dancing her little heart out and dragging who ever she could to the photo booth!

Mallory, the beautiful bride, and my Uncle Jaime

Alex in her beautiful dress!

Uncle Jaime, Mom, Aunt Martha and Uncle Bill

me, Amanda and Kelly

my handsome husband!

Alex, dancing with a random groomsman!

our family

Christmas 2010

We had the best Christmas! It started with Josh being off Thursday and Friday. Wednesday night, we got a sitter for a few hours and Josh and I went to dinner then split up to do some last minute shopping. When we got home we wrapped presents together and watched The Family Man (one of my holiday favorites!) Thursday we took Alex to the doctor. She has had a persistent cough for 2 weeks and started running a 102 fever. She was also telling me the inside of her ear hurt. We wanted to get her in before Christmas in case it got worse. She just got an antibiotic and we were on our way. We let Alex stay up late every single night. We stayed up late snuggling and watching movies!

Christmas Eve we didn't do much. We snacked around for lunch and watched The Nutcracker. The only one we could find on Netflix was a version from the 80's. I didn't think it would hold Alex's attention, but she LOVED it. The girl loves her some Nutcracker music. We must have listened to it 20 times over the last 5 days.
When she woke up from her nap we made cookies for Santa! Alex loves helping in the kitchen.

M&M's are her favorite so she snuck a few before we mixed them in.

After her bath, we followed our Christmas tradition and let her pick 1 present to open! Alex trying to decide which one to open! She ended up picking a gift from Daddy. A set of 6 fairies from her favorite Tinkerbell movies!

Before bed we put out cookies for Santa along with a little card we made for him!

Christmas morning Alex was greeted by Bullseye! Santa knew exactly what she would love! (and thankfully Mommy and Daddy helped Santa find it months ago!)

My sweet husband spoiled me! He always picks the best gifts, including our family gift...and ice cream maker!

After all the presents we opened, we found one more gift Santa hid behind the couch! A pink Mustang! Alex hopped in the drivers seat and Bullseye took shotgun! Then we showed Alex how to push the gas pedal and she decided she was not a fan of the Mustang! haha After breakfast we took the car outside and after some coaxing we got Alex back in the car and Josh pushed the pedal for her. She liked riding in it, but not pushing the pedal. She finally pushed it herself and decided it was ok! lol

After we threw a few things in a suitcase, we headed to my parents. We had a little lunch then opened more presents. Alex helped everyone unwrap their presents!

Alex and Nomi unwrapping the gift for Nomi she helped me wrap!

Alex in her adorable new cowboy boots!

Then Alex and Nomi made cookies! Alex loves to help roll them out then using the cookie cutters. She says wiggle wiggle wiggle as she used the cookie cutters!

Loving on the sugar cookie mix!

We spent the majority of Sunday snuggled on the couch by the fire before we headed home!

Now we had a couple of days at home before we head to Dallas for Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa, both sets of my grandparents, Christmas with Josh's brothers/wives/kids, a rehearsal dinner and a wedding!

Sweet Memories

There are so many nights in our house that revolve around music and I LOVE it! While Alex napped yesterday, I made myself some hot chocolate, wrapped presents and got caught up on a bunch of recorded shows. Before she woke up, I turned the TV off and put on some music. When I went in to get her up, she had a HUGE smile on her face and said, "Mommy, it's the Nutcracker, let's dance!!!" We danced around the living room for a bit, then she curled up on the couch with a few books and looked through them while we listened to Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. When Josh got home, we played, had dinner then danced around the living room while Josh played Christmas carols. Alex can sing along to Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bell Rock, and Last Christmas (you know the cheesy Wham! song?!) In the midst of our dancing and singing and just sat and watched Alex twirl around to the music Josh was playing and knew I wanted to remember that sweet moment forever!